Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary see This Morning ratings soar after Ruth and Eamonn's departure

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary have only completed two weeks in their new job as This Morning's Friday hosts, and they're already proving hugely popular with viewers.

The duo have been watched by a whopping 1.4 million viewers, with their debut show garnering 200,000 more viewers than their predecessors, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes' final show before Christmas. 

Ruth and Eamonn were replaced after 15 years, amid claims the husband and wife duo were "axed" from their regular Friday slot, and demoted to doing holiday cover. 

But, despite the backlash surrounding their departure, Ruth and Eamonn only had kind words for Alison and Dermot ahead of their debut.

Handing over the reigns, Eamonn said, "You won’t be watching us anymore on a Friday. Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary they’re going to be here on Fridays from here on in.

"Please we would ask you to be as nice and lovely to them, friends of ours as they are – and we’re very close to Alison – as you have been to us for the past 15 years."

Although Ruth and Eamonn were popular with This Morning viewers, it is thought the shake-up came after ITV bosses wanted to show more diversity. 

An insider revealed to The Sun, "Eamonn and Ruth are incredibly popular with viewers and loved across the board.

"No one wants to see them go. The shows execs have some very tricky decisions. Eamonn fears he is basically too ‘pale, stale and male’, and, at 60, perhaps not in line with the youth drive broadcasters are after."